Asian cuisine has been one of the world’s most popular cuisines for decades. The centuries of preserved tradition and modern accessibility have created authentic dishes full of fresh ingredients and a flavorful variety of sweet, spicy, and savory dishes.
For food lovers who relish trying out and exploring enticing meals in new ways, Asian food has plenty to offer the palate. There are more than a few ways to try out and approach your journey to get the best eastern food experience every time you eat.
Here’s a food enthusiast’s guide to enjoying Asian cuisine!
Consider Fusion Cuisine
The history of migration to other parts of the world has vastly shaped modern Asian cuisine. When Asian immigrants moved from their homelands to countries mainly in Europe, North America, and Oceania, a cultural mix and melting pot of people gave rise to fusion cuisine. The combined eastern and western cooking techniques and ingredients created a perfect blend suited for a localized palate.
Thanks to this cultural blend, specialist eateries have sprung up to cater to this culinary composition. So, now may be the time to hunt for the best fusion restaurant Townsville has to offer. Some famous fusion dishes include the Banh Mi sandwich, a Vietnamese-French culinary creation, and Chicken Tikka Masala curry created by South Asians in Great Britain.
On the other hand, chefs in the United States have popularized Asian Tex-Mex fusions like kimchi quesadillas and sushi burritos that blend Korean, Japanese, and Texas-Mexican influences.
Be Open To Exotic Ingredients
Whether it’s street food, restaurant fare, or a home-cooked meal, there are key staple ingredients used in Asian cuisine. The sheer variety of ingredients, from sweet spices to sauces and gourmet vegetables to pastes and dressings, makes an exploration of Asian food worth it.
Some of the most common ingredients in food pantries, Asian food markets, and restaurant inventory include dark soy sauce for dipping, cooking, and dressing seafood dishes, rice wine, galangal or Thai ginger, turmeric, Sichuan peppercorns, cumin, cloves, and bean pastes.
Furthermore, Asian food prides itself on using the freshest food ingredients. Thus, regular groceries consist of spring onions, cabbage, boneless chicken, beef, rice, and various noodles.
Go For Group Dining
Communal eating is an important social activity in Asian culture, and this practice is reflected in the cuisine. Sitting at a dinner table and sharing a meal, whether at home or in a restaurant, is part of their way of life. It allows them to connect and discuss their day and even the food they’re eating.
In Asian culture, it’s considered good etiquette to serve others before serving yourself. Also, it’s a sign of respect and gratitude.
Thus, getting the best Asian food experience involves eating with a group instead of as an individual.
Expect the tableware layout to take up most of the table space. Larger portions are placed in the center on top of a roundtable. Some main course favorites include sweet and sticky Cantonese-style barbeque pork, Thai chicken lettuce wraps, and Filipino Kare-Kare oxtail stew.
As for side dishes, there’s usually plenty to go around, such as Korean Baechu-kimchi and Indonesian Urab Sayur vegetable salad.
Try Regional Foods
As the largest continent in the world, Asia has a diverse range of countries and cultures grouped by regional similarities that also relate to food. The regions are East Asia, with cuisine from China, Korea, Japan, and Taiwan. Then there’s South East Asia, with Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, and the Philippines. For South Asia, you have India and Sri Lanka.
East Asian food is characterized by a strong Chinese influence and traditions dating to ancient times. Notable dishes among these countries consist of rice, noodles, soybeans, and seafood, such as prawns and shrimp.
On the other hand, the balance-focused foods of South East Asia blend sweet, sour, and salty savory flavors in their dishes using vegetable curries, herbs, lemongrass, and basil.
South Asia is most famous for its spices and legumes. Also popular in this region is roti, a flatbread filled with curried meat and vegetables.
Conclusion
Food enthusiasts are spoiled for choice on how to enjoy Asian cuisine. Taking your cue from the group-oriented Asians, you may consider communal eating with friends and loved ones. This makes feasting on delectable dishes made fresh and flavorful by common handmade ingredients a worthwhile experience in itself.
There’s also the choice to approach food by regional specialty. This lets you discover what each culture has to offer or get a taste of it all at once in a cross-country fusion mashup. Either way, Asian culture is sure to serve delicious eating experiences anywhere in the world.
Hi there! I’m a food enthusiast and journalist, and I have a real passion for food that goes beyond the kitchen. I love my dream job and I’m lucky enough to be able to share my knowledge with readers of several large media outlets. My specialty is writing engaging food-related content, and I take pride in being able to connect with my audience. I’m known for my creativity in the kitchen, and I’m confident that I can be the perfect guide for anyone looking to take their culinary journey to the next level.
